Popular Woodworking 2006-04 № 154, страница 36
j^Byrdcliffe*LINEN PRESSRecreating a classic cabinet that breaks the rules of Arts & Crafts. The history of most pieces of furniture can be traced back to one individual -usually the designer, the maker or the client. The roots of this linen press spread to include a fascinating group of people at an early 20th-century art colony known as Byrdcliffe, located near Woodstock, N.Y. With its carved door panels and distinctive colors, this unusual cabinet is one of the finest examples of the Arts & Crafts period. The basic form can be traced back to English designs of the period, but the stylized carving and overall proportions make it unique. The original is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Fewer than 50 pieces of furniture were made at Byrdcliffe between 1903 and 1905. Fewer than half of those found buyers; the remaining pieces were found in various buildings at the colony after the 1976 death of the founder's son. Many of these had been left unfinished, the idea being that the buyer could choose a color when purchasing. The Cast of Characters Byrdcliffe was founded and financed by Englishman Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead. He inherited the family's felt fortune at age 32, and was a follower of John Ruskin. Although not an artistic man himself, he married a painter, and enjoyed the company of many prominent artists and intellectuals. In the early 1890s, he wrote about an idealized community of artists, but didn't act on these plans until the birth of his two sons gave him a desire to do something useful with his fortune. He purchased 1,300acres ofland, built about 30 buildings, including a well-equipped woodshop and surrounded himself with a talented group of artists and writers. Although Whitehead held art ists in high esteem, he had a rather low opinion of craftsmen. In his written plan for his community he stated: "Now, in order to have anything good made in stuff, or in hard material, we must seek out the artist to provide us with a design, and then a workman to carry it out as mechanically as possible, because we know that if he puts any of his coarser self into it he will spoil it." Who actually made and carved the furniture produced at Byrdcliffe is not known. Apparently there were several different cabinetmakers, as the quality of construction varies from piece to piece. Although Byrdcliffe was intended to be self-supporting, Whitehead was wealthy enough to abandon the furniture-making part of his plan after a little more than a year of dealing with the "coarser" workmen. Many of the artists in residence created furniture designs. Appa-rantly Whitehead selected a general form, and drawings were made by individual artists. Decorative panels were a common feature, although most were painted, not carved. Among the most talented designers at Byrdcliffe were Edna Walker and Zulma Steele. This piece was designed by Walker. The designs by Walker and Steele are the most beautifully proportioned and distinctive pieces of Byrdcliffe furniture. This cabinet in particular is a refreshing break from the mass and machismo of many Arts & Crafts pieces. 100 Years Later Usually when I make a reproduction of an existing piece I try to stay as close as possible to the original. In building this cabinet, however, I had to make some guesses, and I made a few changes to suit my own taste. I had only a photograph of the front of the cabinet and overall dimensions to work with, so the layout of the side by Robert W. Lang Comments or questions? Contact Bob at 513'531'2690 ext. 1327 or robert.lang@fwpubs.com. Visit his website at craftsmanplans.com. 34 Popular Woodworking April 2006 |
